But did Legolas really? For lack of arrows, he did use a 'long knife' at Helmīs Deep. No recall him wielding a sword somewhere...
Any references handy?

Rain: You're right, you're right I always took the 'long knife' as being
a sword - I can't imagine anyone fighting with a 'long knife'. My problem really, but unless I imagine it to be a sword, I
don't conjure up the right images of the battle at Helm's Deep, for example.
Can you understand what I'm trying to say, because I doubt if I myself can.

Morgan: Rain, There is an elegant style of fighting with long
knives used by the Samurai. The blade is a partner to the katana. My memory of
correct terminology is a little foggy, but I think the matching knife was
called a wakizashi.Someone may care to correct me. Anyway, this is how I would imagine
fighting with a long white knife. Definitely no Jim Bowie!

Rain: Ok, Ok, I bow down to your great wisdom.But I always thought samurai swords were swords not knives
. This is the type of fighting I associate with Legolas, but with a
sword, not with a knife.

Morgan: The katana is a sword, the wakizashi
is a knife. But I have sometimes also heard it referred to as a short sword. It
is about 20" long from hilt to tip. Personally, I think you could put just
about any weapon in Legolas' hand and he would not disgrace it!